Back rest



' 1945- J. J. WILLIAMS I 2,368,436

BACK REST Filed Sept. 13, 1943 2- Sheets-Sheet l H 'lzli Inventor I A? Jaw .zwzzzmms 1945. J. J. WlLLlAMS 2,368,436

' BACK REST Filed Sept. 15, 194:5 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 30, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BACK REST John J. Williams, Green Camp, Ohio Application September 13, 1943, Serial No. 502,203 1 Claim. (01. -327) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in back rests, particularly for bed ridden patients, and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a unique construction and arrangement whereby the device may be expeditiously adjusted to substantially any desired position with a minimum of effort.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an adjustable back rest of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight, comfortable, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing, and still further objects and advantages of the invention, will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a back rest constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the device closed.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, showing the rest adjusted to an intermediate position.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view, showing the rest in its lowermost adjusted position.

Figure 4 is a top plan view showing the device open.

Figure 5 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the closed device.

Figure 6 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through an end portion of the base, showing It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the slots 5 receive the elements In, H, I2 and I3 when the panel 9 is in by tacks or the like 4. The laminations 2 and 3 may also be adhesively secured together. i

The upper lamination 2 of the base I, which is comparatively thick, has formed longitudinally in its forward portion, adjacent the side edges thereof, slots 5 comprisin laterally enlarged forward end portions 6. The lower lamination 3 of the base I has formed transversely therein spaced slots 1 which communicate with the slots 5.

Hingedly mounted at 8 on one end of the base i for vertical swinging movement is a panel 9 of wood or other suitable material. The panel 9 is of substantially the same dimensions as the base I.

Fixed longitudinally on the lower side ofthe closed position on the base I, as illustrated to advantage in Figure 5 of the drawin-gs. When it is desired to adjust the panel 9 to a slight inclination, as seen in Figure 3 of the drawings, the free end of said panel is raised sufficiently tocause the short props Hi to drop into the first slots I, thereby positively supporting said panel. When a greater inclination or a substantially vertical adjustment is desired, the panel 9 is swung upwardly for causing the free ends of the comparatively-long props l2 to engage in the correct slots 1. This is best seen in Figure 2 of the drawings,

wherein it will be observed that the props I3 are The longitudinal walls of the slots inoperative. 5 function as guides for the props l2 and I3. To

lower or close the device, it is, of course, only necessary to knock the props l2 and I3 out of the slots 1 in which they may be engaged and swing the panel 9 downwardly.

It is believed that the many advantages of a back rest constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and

although a preferred embodiment of the device I is as illustrated and described, it is tobe understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A back rest-of the character described comprising an elongated base including upper and lower laminations, the upper lamination being comparatively thick and having longitudinal slots therein, said slots having lateral enlargements at corresponding ends thereof, the lower lamination having transverse slots therein communicating with the longitudinal slots, an elongated panel hingedly mounted on one end of the base for vertical swinging adjustment, and pairs of comparatively long and short props hingedly mounted beneath the panel and engagea'ble, at their free ends, in the transverse slots for releasably supporting said panel in adjusted position, said props further being engageable in the longitudina-l slots when the panel is swung to closed position on the base, the'short props being disposed beside the free end portions of the long props in position to enter the lateral enlargements of the longitudinal slots when the panel is so swung.

JOHN J. WILLIAMS. 

